Automatic locking means for wheeled toys



J. G. DENGLER AUTOMATIC LOCKING MEANS FOR WHEELED TOYS Filed May'lo.1924 Jab r2 GLUE/j! Patented Mar. 17, 1925.

'U'NHTED STATES JOHN G. IDENGLEB, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANTA.

AUTOMATIC LOGKING-IvIEAN FOR WHEELED TOYS.

i Application filed- May 10, 1924. Serial No. 712,330.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN G. Dnncnnma citizen of the United States,residing at N. S. Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of.Pennsylvania,'-have invented certain new and useful Improvements in anAutomatic Locking Means for Wheeled Toys, of which the following is.aspecification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in wheeled toysand has for its principal object to provide a locking means for thedriven .axle thereofso asto prevent the rotation of the-axle when thetoy is in an inoperative position thus .enabling the springmechanismassociated therewith to be rewound.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide alocking means for a wheeled toy which will be automatic in itsoperation.

A further object isto provide a locking means for wheeled toys whichwill .enable a child to rewind the spring mechanism associated withthetoy without any danger of the childs fingers coming in contact withthe cog wheels orcfurther having to hold the wheels mounted on thedriven axle.

A further object is to-provide a locking means for wheeled toys of theabove mentioned character, which is simple in construction, inexpensive,strong and durable and furthermore adapted for the purposes for which itis designated.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparentduring the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification and inwhich like numerals designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure l is a fragmentary rear end elevation of a wheeled toy with thelocking means in an inoperative position.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of a portion of a wheeled toyshowing the locking means in an operative position, and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail perspective view of the driven axle.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown thepreferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates generallya wheeled toy and the same comprises the body portion 2. Depending fromthe rear portion of the body 2 adjacent the respective sides thereof arethe rear in the manner hereinafter ,to be more fully described.Supported on .th e outerg, sof the axle are the traction.iivheelS-Slinihie usual manner. 7 I i I v The rear axle 5 is provioledwith ,acog wheel 9- adjacent the bracket Land the, purpose of this cogwheel isto provideia means for engagement with the .cog wheel 10 keyedto the shaft 11 which extends transversely through supporting bracketsalphas (are shown at 12 in the manner we llkno wnin the art. A coilspring 13encircles}the'shaft 11 and is fastenedat one end to'thejbottomof the toy body 2 andatits opposite end to the cog wheel 10.A-handleflsuclijas is illustrated at 14 is providedionthe .outer end ofthe shaft .11 and provides a meansif r winding the spring 13 onthefshaft llin' the manner as is commonan'dwelldinowniilthe art ofspring wound and actuating 'tdys.

Ordinarily with the spring wound and actuated wheeled toys now in use,it is necessary in order to prevent the rotation of the rear axle andthe traction wheels carried thereby to hold the same while the springisbeing rewound. Oftentimes small chil: dren in handling toys of thischaracter will accidentally place their fingers between the cog wheelsand this will result in serious injury. In order that the tractionwheels on the driven rear axle may be held against rotation while thespring mechanism is being rewound, I have provided the locking meanswhich is associated with the rear driven axle and the supporting bracket3 whereby the axle will be automatically moved into a locked andinoperative position so that the spring mechanism may be rewoundwhenever necessary.

The operation of the locking means may be briefly stated as follows:Normally when the wheeled toy is on the floor or ground the weight ofthe body or toy will cause the bracket 3 to have its uppermost enlargedportion receiving the squared portion 7 of the axle 5 whereby the axlemay freely rotate in the bracket and permit the free 0peration of thetraction wheels over the surface 'upon which it is placed. When itbecomes necessary to rewind the spring mechanism, the toy is lifted offof the ground or floor and the lifting of the toy causes the bracket 3to be raised upwardly therewith simultaneously causing the squareportion 7 of the axle 5 to seat in the lowermost reduced portion of theslot 6 in the bracket 3 thereby causing the rear driven axle to belocked against rotation in the bracket so that the spring mechanism maybe easily and quickly rewound. It will also be understood that whenthetoy is held in an inoperative position, the spring 13 will exert apressure on the squared portion of the axle in the mannet, as is obviousfrom the construction shown so as to further assist in locking thedriven axle against rotation While the spring mechanism is beingrewound. When the toy is again placed on the floor or ground, the

bracket 3 due to the weight of the toy will mpve downwardly over thesquare portion of the axle so as to cause the same to again seat in theenlarged upper portion of the slot and permit the free rotation of theaxle and the traction wheels carried thereby.

and the traction Wheels carried thereby against rotation while thespring mechanism is being rewound. The provision of a locking means ofthe above mentioned character, on'spring actuated wheeled toys willprolong the use of the toy as well as prevent any possibility of injuryto the person handling the toy while rewinding the spring mechanism.

While I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to beunderstood that various changes in the size, shape and arrangementofparts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of theinvention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is V T '1. In awheeled toy, one of the driven axle supporting brackets having akey-hole slot provided therein, the driven axle having a reduced squaredportion normally disposed in the larger portion of the slot in saidbracket when the'toy is in operation, said squared portion of the axlebeing adapted to seat in the smaller part of the slot to lock the axleand the traction wheels carried thereby against rotation when the wheelsare not engaged with a supporting surface.

2. In a spring actuated wheeled toy, one of the driven axle supportingbrackets having a key-hole slot provided therein, said driven axleextending through the bracket and normally disposed in the upper largerportion of the slot when the toy is in operation,the portion of the axledisposed in said slot being adapted to be seated in the smaller lowerportion of the slot to lock the axle and the traction wheels carriedthereby against rotation when the toy is lifted ofi of the ground torewind the spring mechanism.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN G. DENGLER.

